Altered cytokinin distribution in the shootless maize mutant ed*41

Abstract

The distribution of cytokinins is strongly altered in seedlings of the shootless ed*41 mutant of maize (Zea mays L.), compared with wild-type. Immunolocalisation of zeatin and analysis of cytokinin levels clearly indicate that these hormones are not present in the shoot apex zone of the mutant. Since an anomalous differentiation of vascular tissues has also been observed in the mutant, a major role of vascular connection in hormone translocation affecting development of the shoot apical meristem is proposed. Immunolocalisation of zeatin was confined to the root cap, cortex and vascular tissues of both mutant and wild-type seedlings suggesting a tissue-specific synthesis of this hormone in the root. A time-course of cytokinin distribution in the wild-type developing shoot provided evidence that the tunica and corpus zones become competent to respond to cytokinins in subsequent periods, very probably in conjunction with photomorphogenesis. On the contrary, this pathway is totally disrupted in the mutant. Taken together, the data point to a relationship between the ed*41 mutation, inadequate vascular connection and disrupted hormone translocation.